Merrimack College Athletics Announces 2017 Hall of Fame Class

The Merrimack College athletic department announced its 2017 Hall of Fame class on Monday, which includes 10 former student-athletes.

The induction will take place on Oct. 12, 2017 and will mark the re-launch of the Hall of Fame. The ceremony will also unveil the newly renovated Merrimack Athletics Hall of Fame Gallery in a repurposed location in the Merrimack Athletics Complex’s Volpe Center.

“We are proud to honor all these outstanding student-athletes, and generous supporters of our programs, who helped make Merrimack the success it is today,” said President Christopher E. Hopey. “These men and women excelled on and off the field as members of the Merrimack community, and we hold them up as examples to current and future students, and to the world, of what the Warrior spirit embodies.”

“The Hall of Fame Class of 2017 represents a diverse group of student-athletes and special contributors who have distinguished themselves and the College through their accomplishments,” said Director of Athletics Jeremy Gibson. “We are thrilled to enshrine a group that have helped to build the rich history of Merrimack Athletics.”

The Hall of Fame festivities will commence at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail and appetizer reception in Schelzi Plaza and the Volpe Center, allowing attendees to view the brand-new Hall of Fame gallery for the first time.

The event coincides with the College’s annual Homecoming Weekend, which includes a number of home athletics events on both Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13-14. Additionally, the College will officially open Warrior Stadium with a special event on Friday night.

Merrimack College Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Inductees

Molly Cindric | Women’s Volleyball | 2011
Molly Cindric was an All-American in 2008, the first in program history. Cindric finished her career with the most kills (1,563) and total attack attempts (4,216) in school history. She led Merrimack to their first and only two NCAA Tournament appearances in school history in 2007 and 2008.

Darren Duncan | Men’s Basketball | 2010
Darren Duncan was a two-time All-American and holds the program record in assists, free-throws made, and free-throws attempted. Duncan helped lead Merrimack to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and was named a Bob Cousy award finalist as the nation’s top player as a senior. Duncan led the NE10 in assists in all four of his seasons and leads the NE10 in free throws for a career still to this day.

Jim Hrivnak | Men’s Ice Hockey | 1989
Jim Hrivnak was a four-year member of the men’s ice hockey team and posted some of the best goaltending numbers in school history. Hrivnak was named an All-American in 1988 and is the school record holder in shutouts in a single season and a career. Hrivnak was drafted by the Washington Capitals and went on to play for the Capitals, Winnipeg, and St. Louis in his NHL career. Hrivnak is unable to attend this year’s induction ceremony due to a prior scheduling commitment and will be formally inducted in 2018.

Andrew Jackson | Football | 2008
Andrew Jackson was the first two-time All-American in program history. He led Merrimack to its only NCAA Tournament appearance and win in 2006, which also marked the program’s first NE10 title. Jackson is the only player in program history to be named a NE10 first team selection on both offense (return specialist) and defense (DB). He holds both the NE10 and Merrimack record for most kickoff return TDs in a season and in a career and is tied for the program record for career interceptions.

Andrea Leonard | Women’s Cross Country | 2000
Andrea Leonard was the first three-time NE10 women’s champion in league history. Those efforts helped pace Merrimack to its only three conference titles in school history. Leonard earned all-region honors twice and was the first Merrimack athlete to earn Player of the Year honors for three straight years.

Joelle Martin | Women’s Basketball | 2006
Joelle Martin, a 2016 NE10 Hall of Fame inductee, led Merrimack to its only two Final Four appearances and conference championships and she finished her career as the program’s only 2,000-point scorer. She also leads the program record books in scoring average, field goals, and free-throw percentage. A two-time All-American, Martin was a four-time all-conference honoree and was also named the MVP of the 2004 NE-10 Championship.

Steve McAuliffe | Men’s Soccer | 1998
Steve McAuliffe, a 2012 NE10 Hall of Fame inductee, was an NE10 First Team selection each of his four years at Merrimack and twice was named the NE-10 Defensive Player of the Year. He was the NE10 Player of the Year and an All-American in 1997. His 45 career goals, 48 assists, and 138 points place him second in school history. McAuliffe helped lead Merrimack to three regular season and tournament championships.

Raffaella Paparo | Softball | 1996
Raffaella Paparo was a key member of Merrimack’s 1994 National Championship team and was inducted in the NE10 Hall of Fame in 2011. She was a four-time All-NE10 first team selection and also won NE10 Rookie of the Year and NE10 Player of the Year honors. She was a four-time All-American and helped lead the Warriors to a 61-7 conference record.

Sue Plante | Women’s Soccer | 1990
A 2007 NE10 Hall of Fame inductee, Sue Plante was the first NE10 women’s soccer All-American in conference history. She led her team to three NE-10 titles and was named the NE10 Rookie of the Year and NE10 Player of the Year over the course her career. Plante was also a four-time NE10 first team selection and ranks second in career saves in Division II history.

Greg Rogowski | Men’s Lacrosse | 2009
Greg Rogowski, a 2014 NE10 Hall of Fame inductee, was a four-time All-American selection and a two-time NE10 Player of the Year. A four-time all-conference first team selection, Rogowski led the Warriors to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009 and is the program’s all-time leader in goals and points and is also the only player in school history with at least 300 points. He also set the Merrimack single-season record for goals with 71 as a rookie.

Richard Gallant | Special Contributor | H’15
Richard Gallant H’15 the President of the Islanders Hockey Organization, one of the premier development and competitive hockey programs in New England. Richard and his wife Susanna and the Islanders are also the founding partners and investors of Merrimack’s Gallant Arena. Gallant is a Vice Chair of Competing for Good, the athletics initiative of the Together for Good Campaign. The Gallants have generously donated one of the largest gifts in school history – a $2 million gift in 2012 to fund the Agenda for Distinction and have provided over $3.7 million to support Merrimack. Richard received his honorary degree from Merrimack in 2015 and provided a lead gift to support the new athletic district facilities as a part of the capital campaign.

Dave McGillivray | Special Contributor | 1976, H’12
Dave McGillivray is the President and Owner of Dave McGillivray Sports Enterprises, specializing in creating, marketing and producing mass participatory athletic events throughout the U.S. and abroad. McGillivray manages more than 25 road races per year including the BAA Boston Marathon where he has served as race director since the 1980s. He also raised money for a Merrimack scholarship fund by bicycling more than 1,000 miles throughout New England in 1983. The founder of the DMSE Sports Classic at Merrimack in 2016, McGillivray delivered Merrimack’s Commencement address at Merrimack in 2012 and received an honorary degree.

Mike McMahon is in his 12th year covering Merrimack College for The Eagle Tribune and is the founder and managing editor of The Mack Report. Mike also serves on staff as a senior writer at College Hockey News. Follow him on Twitter @MikeMcMahonCHN